Page 267 - DCAP602_NETWORK_OPERATING_SYSTEMS_I

Unit 14: File Server

introduction notes

Samba is a strong network service for file and print sharing that works on the mainstream of
operating systems available today. When well implemented by the administrator, it’s faster and
more secure than the native file sharing services available on Microsoft Windows machines.
Samba is the protocol by which a lot of PC-related machines share files and printers, and other
information, such as lists of available files and printers. Operating systems that support this
natively include Windows 95/98/NT, OS/2, and Linux, and add on packages that achieve the
similar thing are available for DOS, Windows, VMS, Unix of all kinds, MVS, and more.

14.1 overview of samba server

Samba is a networking tool that enables Linux to participate in Windows networks. There are
two parts to Samba, one being the server which shares out files and printers for other PC’s to use,
and the other being the client utilities, which allow Linux to access files and printers on other
Windows/Samba PCs.
Apple Macs and some Web Browsers can speak this protocol as well. Alternatives to SMB include
Netware, NFS, AppleTalk, Banyan Vines, and Decnet etc. Many of these have advantages but
none are public specifications and widely implemented in desktop machines by default. Samba
software includes an SMB server, to provide Windows NT and LAN Manager-style file and
print services to SMB clients such as Windows 95, Warp Server, smbfs and others, a NetBIOS,
rfc1001/1002 name server, which amongst other things gives browsing support, an ftp-like SMB
client so that you can access PC resources; disks and printers from Unix, Netware and other
operating systems, and finally, a tar extension to the client for backing up PCs.

Did u know? What is SMB?

14.2 installing samba server

figure 14.1: installing samBa server

LoveLy professionaL university 261